Looking beyond the four walls of an apartment and at the bigger picture surrounding it is vital when apartment hunting. Aficionados of apartment life will probably know what to look for, especially if they've been stung before, but for first-time buyers, the golden rule is to remember that when you buy an apartment, you effectively buy into a community. How that community is designed, organised and managed will have an impact on your life, if you're an owner-occupier. It's important to compile a checklist of your expectations and approach each viewing with your eyes wide open. Each checklist will differ, depending on whether the buyer intends to live in the property or let it, but here is a general list of factors that you should consider before deciding to buy.

Location

Get to know the area. Check out nearby facilities and amenities like shops, restaurants, bars, schools and churches and find out if you are close to a DART or rail station and a good bus route. If it's a lively area, it's likely to be noisy at night.

Building

Consider if the building is going to be high or low maintenance. If it's brick, the maintenance costs will be less than for a rendered building that needs to be repainted every few years. The more maintenance required, the higher the management fee is going to be. Some of the newer and more expensive apartment developments have element-friendly materials on the facade as an alternative to brick. An example of this is the Corr Castle development in Howth, Dublin 13, which has a material called Monocouche on its exterior. This does not require painting or maintenance. Windows are another consideration. Wooden ones should be properly treated. Aluminium face timber windows - timber on the inside and aluminium on the outside - are being used more now, to cut maintenance costs.

If possible, find out if the roof is in good condition. A good indicator of how well the overall development is managed is the condition of the common areas and the lobby. The quality of the lift is also important as is security. Some blocks like Custom House Square in the city centre have a security hut at their entrance. Others have security cameras, intercom systems, security gates or a combination of these. A green area will be important to some buyers, but it should also be remembered that the bigger the green area, the higher the service charge. The car-parking arrangements should also be noted. Is the car parking space included in the price or does it cost extra? Spaces now cost between £20,000 and £50,000 in the city centre and between £10,000 and £20,000 in the suburbs.

Lease

The lease is the blueprint that outlines the rules of the development. Careful scrutiny is crucial before committing yourself as leases can vary. Ignorance of the rules is no defence later as the lease is legally binding.

Management

It is important to check if the management company employs a good agent to maintain the development. In some smaller, generally older, blocks the residents bypass the need for an agent by maintaining the development themselves. A prospective buyer must consider if the management fee is realistic and if there is a substantial fund for emergencies, repairs and maintenance.

Noise

Noise can be a problem in blocks with long corridors - many of the early 1990s Section 23 apartments were designed this way. It could be best to opt for an apartment at the end of a corridor, away from lift areas, to minimise sounds of passing traffic.

If you are looking to buy into an older block, make sure there is adequate soundproofing. Newer blocks tend to be better in this regard because of more stringent building regulations. Check out the neighbours. If the building has lots of young people, noise could also be a concern.

Space and light

Buy as much space as you can afford. Even if the layout of an apartment is not quite the way you want it, decide on square footage. These days more and more people are rearranging the space in an apartment to suit themselves. Opt for an apartment with the most storage space in built-in wardrobes, airing cupboard or walk-in utility cupboard. A small apartment with little or no storage can become unbearably cluttered. Some new blocks have storage units in the basement, either included in the price or available at an extra cost and are well worth the investment.

It's also important to have a good aspect, either southerly or westerly facing or failing that somewhere bright with a nice view. Visit any apartment you intend to buy at different times of the day to see where the sun shines. Obviously basement apartments are at an immediate disadvantage on this front and some ground floor or first and second floor apartments could find their light blocked by surrounding buildings.

Final advice

No development is perfect, but don't compromise on the important issues. If you have nagging doubts about a development, walk away and don't look back, no matter how perfect the apartment might seem.